These sketches are the result of our (me and Marcus) unexpected encounter friendship with Buz Walker along Pudu Jail during his recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month (28th March 2012).

He is an illustrator and graphic designer from Sacramento, California (1976-1995). Since 1995, he has been living in SE Asia and taught art & design at colleges in Malaysia & Singapore. From April 2011 onwards, Buz had been relocated to Manila, Philippines.

The Central Market 中央艺术坊 is located on Jalan Hang Kasturi, just a stone away from Chinatown on Petaling Street. It was founded in 1888 and was originally used as a wet market, while the current building was completed in 1937. It has since been classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society and it is now a landmark for Malaysian culture and heritage.

This building was built by the British who were ruling Malaya at that time and it was used as a wet market for Kuala Lumpur folks and tin miners. It was very convenient to the early city dwellers because it was within the vicinity of Klang bus stand, the hub of feeder bus service for Kuala Lumpur and the train station.

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Further expansions were made in 1889, 1895, 1920 and 1921. By 1933, the expansions to the warehouse turned the market now to its present size.Hence, in the early 1980s, it was renovated and reopened for use in year 1986. Instead of being used as a wet market, it has since then became a leading arts and crafts centre in the city.

Kuan Ti 关帝 (God of Righteousness ‘正义’) and Kuan Ti Temple along High Street (adjacent to Petaling Street – KL’s Chinatown).The temple which houses an antique ‘关刀guan dao ‘. This long knife was Kuan Ti’s weapon and had been brought here from China more than 100 years ago.

There are two Guardian Gods of the temple standing ostentatiously outside, on either side of the entrance. This temple was built-in 1888 by the Selangor & Federal Territory Kwong Siew Association.

Here are some rare glimpses into the interior of the infamous Pudu Prison of Kuala Lumpur, days before it was closed forever from the public’s eyes. From the corridors to the room cells, the whole structure of this century old prison painted a picture of gloom and doom.

Block D where the execution chamber was located. The hanging room was torn down, leaving a big gap when view from busy Jalan Pudu.

A fountain now left abandoned and broken.

Iron gate leading to the prison cells of Block A (Left), Old entrance to the prison circa 1895 (centre) and the main entrance view from inside out (right).

The kitchen of the prison.

Corridors of despair and rooms of loneliness. The empty gap once housed the execution room where condemned men and women were hang for crimes committed.

A view from the second floor. Below is an air passage for sunlight to illuminate the cells of the lower floor.